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Registration is open for our OCIA programs for Becoming Catholic, as well as Religious Education for preK through 12th grade; Youth Group for 6th through 12th grade; and Youth Schola for 2nd grade and up. VOLUNTEERS are needed in these programs in various roles. Click for more info.

The Jubilate Deo Youth Schola is a class that teaches singing and reading music - specifically sacred music – on Fridays at 4:45pm. This class sings for Mass and special occasions during the year. Students from 2nd through 12th grade with unchanged voices are invited, with an advanced track for older students.

The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul is seeking volunteers to run the livestream of the Basilica 9:00 Mass on Sundays. Simple training will be arranged. We need several volunteers to help us continue the livestream consistently. Contact [email protected] if you are interested in helping with this vital ministry.

We are recruiting adult parishioners to join the Sacristan Ministry to set up the sanctuary for Mass. Step-by-step training will be provided. Click for details.

The Men's Discernment Group is for men who are interested in discerning if God is calling them to the priesthood. Hosted by Father Mark Schuster every fourth Saturday of the month at 9am in JPII conference room at the Chancery. If you are interested, fill out the form (click here) or email [email protected]. Zoom option for those not in the Knoxville area. If you know someone who might have a calling, please invite them to this opportunity to discern God's call. Interest form: https://forms.office.com/r/CmSwudiVnf

Knights of Columbus Council 610 is offering a special Father's Day gift of one year of free membership. You can claim this free gift or give it to a loved one. You may also join other Knights and their families at the Basilica Sun., June 21 at 10:30am for a prayer of consecration to the Holy Family.

Iron & Altar, Chattanooga's interparish Catholic men's fellowship, meets at 6:30pm Fridays at the St. Jude Library. In June 2026 we will launch a new sixteen-session study, The Hidden Canon, exploring the Minor Prophets, the Deuterocanonical books, and how Scripture itself came to us. New men of all parishes are warmly invited to join. Learn more and sign up at ironandaltar.org.

We welcome Fr. Colin Blatchford, our former Parochial Vicar, as the celebrant of our Masses the weekend of April 18-19. Fr. Blatchford is the Associate Director of Courage International, an apostolate that provides pastoral accompaniment to individuals who experience same-sex attraction and are seeking to live a chaste life in accordance with the Church’s teaching on sexuality. The EnCourage ministry walks with parents, siblings, and friends. During Mass this weekend, a special collection will be taken up to support Courage & Encourage.

The Basilica is seeking adults age 18 and up with experience caring for pre-school-age children to attend the nursery on Sundays from 8:45am to 1pm, for $50/Sunday, or as a volunteer for the full shift or half-shift. Safe Environment training and background check required. Interested candidates should email [email protected]. Click for details.

Click to see our schedule for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter 2026 including Friday Adoration, Stations of the Cross, Fish Fry, and all the special liturgies. Also note the rules for fasting and abstinence.

We wish to thank all who participated in Bishop Beckman's Called by Name program. Your prayers have been especially beneficial to the parish as we received 20 names of potential candidates for religious life. Please pray for vocations, and in particular for the nominees as each of them begin the journey of discernment.

It is traditional for parish priests to bless chalk for each family so that they may mark the names of the three Magi over their doors, in the blessing of homes as a witness of their faith and protection against evil. After Mass on the weekend of Jan. 3 & 4, 2026, you can pick up blessed chalk in the vestibule, and take it home for a traditional Epiphany House Blessing. Click to see the instructional flyer.

Our Christmas Masses include: a Vigil Mass in English at 5:30pm on Dec. 24 (prelude music at 5pm); Midnight Mass in Latin at 12am on Dec. 25 (prelude music at 11:30pm Dec. 24), Christmas Day English Mass at 10am, and Spanish Mass at 12pm. On January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a holy day of obligation, we will have three Masses: 12pm English, 6pm Latin, and 8pm Spanish. Click for details.

The traditional Ember Days of fasting for Advent are Wed., Fri., and Sat., Dec. 17, 19, and 20. While a fast is not obligatory, it is a worthy traditional spiritual practice to fast or abstain in some way on one or more of these days.

As we journey through Advent, may our hearts grow in hope, peace, joy, and love. Are you preparing the way of the Lord? Click to see our schedule of Advent events and devotions, and resources from our Diocese.

The Basilica’s new Servant of God Library for adults is now open for browsing and borrowing books ranging from Theology to Fiction, at the end of the hallway by the elevators. We have over 800 books in the collection, the majority of them donated by the parishioners of Sts. Peter and Paul; it can truly be called a "community library."

Bishop Beckman has responded to the request of the universal Church to implement Traditionis Custodes in the Diocese of Knoxville. Beginning Nov. 23, 2025, the 11:30 Latin Mass at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul will be celebrated according to the Latin edition of the 2002 Roman Missal, with the most traditional options that the current rubrics allow. Click to read Fr. Carter's Pastoral Letter, Bishop Beckman's letter to the faithful, and details about the form of celebration of the 11:30 Mass.

Our 2025-26 Annual Stewardship Appeal is to support the regular operation of our parish through Offertory giving. We are aiming for 100% participation in our Offertory by all parishioners. The pledge will be conducted during Mass on October 25 & 26. (Click to view and submit the pledge on our Stewardship page at any time.) Thank you for your generous support for our parish.

We are starting a new Vocations Ministry at the Basilica, and the first effort of this ministry is parish-wide prayer for new vocations to the priesthood. Click here for a first look at our new Vocations Ministry and the prayer we will be praying together.

This past spring, our parish participated in the Disciple Maker Index survey, along with other parishes of the Diocese of Knoxville. Click to read some insights and a detailed report of results. Many thanks to all who participated in the Disciple Maker Index survey. The insights gained from this survey are already helping Fr. Carter to plan for our future.